Combination inertia and centrifugal throttle-governor for steam-engines.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

W. D. CARTER.

COMBINATION INERTIA AND CENTRIFUGAL THROTTLE GOVERNOR FOR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19. 1904.

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W. D. CARTER. COMBINATION INERTIA AND OENTRIFUGAL THROTTLE GOVERNOR FORSTEAM ENGINES.

APPLIOATION rum) JULY 19. 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM DOUGLAS CARTER, CF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

COMBINATION INERTIA AND CENTRIFUGAL THROTTLE-GOVERNOR FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed July 19, 1904:. Serial No. 217,276.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DOUGLAS CAR- TER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Quincy, in the county of Adams and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in aCombination Inertia and Centrifugal Throttle-Governor for Steam-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to a throttle-governor to'be mounted on asteam-engine in such a way as to receive its motive power from saidengine and also to be so placed as to necessitate the passage of thesupplied steam through the governing-throttle before it enters thecylinder of a reciprocating engine or comes in contact with therevolving parts of a turbineengine. The governing is effected by thecombined principles of inertia in a revolving fly-wheel and ofcentrifugal force exerted upon the rotating balls of an attachedmechanism. My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafterfully pointed out in the claims. Figure 1 is a vertical view of mygovernor, the throttle-valve being shown in cross-section taken alongline I I, Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is another vertical view of my governorexclus'ive of the valve and parts to the right of line a a, Fig. 1, andshowing more plainly the governing mechanism desired to be secured byLetters Patent. Fig. 3 is a section of the balanced valve andsteam-passages, taken on line b b, Fig. 1, and showing a slightlymodified and simplified form of rim 8, divided into segments, theprinciple being identical with that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows apossible case of the position occupied by the governor G on an uprightreciprocating engine, showing belt connection to shaft of engine.

28 designates metal balls which are rigidly fixed to steel leaf-springs27, which in turn are fixed to the bevel-gear 25 through the part 26,all of which is made to rotate, gear 25 being in mesh with gear 24. 29represents links connecting by bearings at their ends the balls 28 andthe collar 30. Collar 30 rotates with balls 28 on spindle 32 betweencollars 31, fixed to said spindle 32. The whole mechanism 25 to 32,inclusive, forms the centrifugal governing device which is incombination with and not inclusive of what I desire to secure by LettersPatent. 23 designates a pulley through which power may be communicatedfrom a belt connected to a rotating part of the engine through the shaft22, journaled at 20 between collars 21 and supported by arm 19 to thebevel-gear 24 and thence to gear 25, journaled at 17, and to pinion 35,mounted on shaft 36 (here see Fig. 2) and journaled at 37 and 38, whichare connected by arm 40. 47 is a small fly-wheel keyed to shaft 36 androtating with it and with pinion 35, which is in mesh with said gear 24.43 designates an arm fixed rigidly to bearing 38, which bearing is fixedby set-screw 41 to shaft 12, which actuates the throttle-valve byturning in bear ing 15 and in stuffing-box 13. (See Fig. 1.) 42designates a counterweight, its position being adjusted by a set-screwto balance the weight of fiy-wheel 47 and parts 35 to 40, inclusive, allof which are supported on shaft 12 in bearing 15, supported by arm 14,and in stufling-box 13, which stuffing-box is to prevent the escape ofsteam from the interior of valve 4. 48 (see Fig. 2) designates an armattached to arm 14, which forms a stop to the upward rotation of members35 to 40, inclusive, fly-wheel 47 and shaft 12 about the axis throughbearing 15, and hence a stop in that direction to rim 8 when ports 3 arecompletely opened. 34 designates alink swingingly connecting arm 43 andfiat steel spring 33 at bearings 44 and 45, respectively, which flatspring is rigidly connected at 46 to said spindle 32, which spindle isfree to move vertically through bearing 17.

1 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3) designates the place of entrance of steamcoming from the boiler into the throttle-valve, and by means of passages2, which open into internal cavity 4 at the diametrically-opposed ports3, the steam emerges through port 5 and passage 6 into the engine, whichis connected at 7.

8, Fig. 3,.represents segments of rim 8 in Fig. 1, which segments arefixed diametrically opposite at the extremities of arm 49, Fig. 3, andwhich may in part or wholly cover the ports 3 when turned by means ofshaft 12, which is connected to the governing'mechanism. A very smallamplitude of angular motion of shaft 12 in bearing 15 and stufiingbox 13is necessary to produce the desired throttling of ports 3, and hence thefriction of these working parts is reduced to a minimum. Thediametrically-opposed position of ports 3 and segments 8, both of equalareas, balance any force which may be exerted by the incoming steam uponequal exposed parts of segments 8 when partly covering said equal 12about its long axis.

ports 3. Hence there can be no binding frictional force, due tosteam-pressure,exerted tointerfere with the swinging motion of shaft InFig. 1 rim 8 is shown as a hollow cylinder with diametrically oppositeports of equal size.

The operation of my governor is as follows: Pulley 23, being connectedto a primary rotating part of the engine by means of a belt, hasrotation imparted toit, say, in the direction indicated by the arrows,Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. This rotation is communicated through shaft 22 togear 24, which therefore rotates in a like direction and being in meshwith gear 25 causes it to rotate from left to right, as indicated,causing a horizontal rotation of balls 28. If the parts 25 to 30,inclusive, be made to rotate faster, the centrifugal force acting uponballs 28 will increase, causing them to diverge, and thereby raisingvertically the spindle 32, which is rigidly connected to flat-bladespring 33, and by causing the bearing 45 to rise correspondinglyaswinging motion will be transmitted through link 34 to part consistingof units 35 to 44, inclusive, and fly-wheel 47, about the axis of shaft12, moving in bearing 15 and stufiing-box 13. The above motion of shaft12 being communicated through part 9 to rim 8 or segments 8 would carryrim 8 or segments 8 a corresponding distance across ports 3, and therebythrottle the incoming steam from passages 2 and regulate the amount ofsteam allowed to escape through opening 5, which is always fully open,and passage 6 into the working parts of the engine. If the speed ofcentrifugal governing parts 25 to 30, inclusivc,slacken, due toaslackening of the speed of the engine, the balls 28 will converge,spindle 32, spring 33, and link 34 will be thrust downward, swingingsaid parts 35 to 44, inclusive, and flywheel 47 in the oppositedirection and toward or against stop 48, and thereby open ports 3 to afull or to an approximately full extent. The governing efie'ct of thiscentrifugal mechanism on the speed of the engine is obvious from theabove, and on following the simultaneous action of theinertia mechanismor part 35 to 47, inclusive, in the above-assumed cases of increased anddecreased speed of the engine the value of the combined inertia andcentrifugal mechanisms will be apparent. If, as assumed above, the speedof the engine, and therefore of gear 24, increase, the tendency will beto increase to speed of the rotating pinion 35 in mesh with gear 24, andtherefore of fly-wheel47, which is keyed with pinion 35 to shaft 36. Anytendency to increase the rate of rotation of fly-wheel 47 will be met'with a temporary reaction, due to the inability of the fly-wheel 47 toimmediately assume an increased rate of rotation. This reaction beingapplied in the direction of rotation of gear 24 will cause the parts 35to 44, inclusive, and fly-wheel 47 to swing from right to left inaccordance with the above principle, will impart acorrespondingswingingmotion to shaft 12, and, as above stated, throttle the admission ofsteam entering the engine, and thereby diminish the speed of the engine.This last motion will be permissible only because of the flexibility offlat spring 33, which bends upward at bearing 45, or because of adivergence of balls 28, causing a bending of leaf-springs 27. If, on thecontrary, the speed of the engine, and therefore of gear 24, tend todecrease, the rotating speedof fly-wheel 47 by virtue of its inertiacannot be immediately slackened, and so the tendency to maintain thesame relative motion between gear 24 and parts 35 to 44, inclusive, andfly-wheel 47 will necessitate a swinging motion of parts 35 to 44,inclusive, and flywheel 47 from left to right, which motion will producein the shaft 12 and segments 8 a motionopposite to that in theabove-assumed case, open the throttle-valve, and hence increase thespeed of the engine, the above movement being allowed by an oppositebending of flat-blade spring 33 or by a convergence of balls-28 and arelaxing of said leafsprings 27.

The function of the inertia governing mechanism is to govern any suddenchanges in the speed of the engine, while the office of the centrifugalgoverning mechanism is to govern any tendency toward a more gradualchange of speed of the engine. The combination therefore produces a mostsensitive form of governor for any form of engine.

I am aware that prior to my invention centrifugal throttle-governorshave been used, and, as above stated, the centrifugal mechanism of mygovernor is in combination with and not inclusive of what I desire tosecure by Letters Patent. I therefore do not claim such a combinationbroadly; but,

That I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The combination, in an inertia and centrifugal throttle-governor, ofa train of bevelgears, consisting of a bevel-gear mounted on a rotatableshaft in a stationary bearing, a pinion always in mesh with saidbevel-gear, and mounted on a rotatable shaft in a bearing, which bearingitself being mounted on a journaled shaft, may swing in a plane parallelto the plane of rotation of said first bevel-gear, and mechanism wherebypower is communicated to said first gear to impart rotation thereto,substantially as set forth.

2. In an inertia and centrifugal throttlegovernor, the combination of atrain of bevelgears consisting of a gear mounted on a rotatable shaft ina stationary bearing, a pinion always in mesh with said bevel gear andmounted on a rotatable shaft in a bearing, which bearing itself beingmounted on a journaled shaft, may swing in a plane parallel to the planeof rotation of said first bevel-gear the plane of rotation of said firstbevel-gear,

a fly-wheel keyed to'said pinion-shaft; a counterweight, mounted on anextending arm of said swinging bearing, the position of which may beadjusted so as to balance in any position, the weight of said flywheel,pinion, shaft, and bearing; and mechanism whereby poweris communicatedto said first gear to impart rotation thereto, substantially as setforth.

4. In an inertia and centrifugal governor, the combination of a train ofbevel-gears, consisting of a bevel-gear mounted on a rotatable shaft ina stationary bearing; a pinion always in mesh with said bevel-gear andmounted on a rotatable shaft in a bearing, which bearing itself beingmounted ona journaled shaft, may swing in a plane parallel to the planeof rotation of said first bevel-gear; a fly-wheel keyed to saidpinion-shaft; a counterweight mounted on an extending arm of saidswinging bearing, the position of which may be adjusted so as to balancein any position, the weight of said flywheel, pinion, shaft, andbearing; a fiat steel spring constrained to move at one end, in astraight line at right angles to both said fly-wheel shaft, and to theshaft of said swinging bearing, and connected at the other end by anintermediate link, to said extending arm; and mechanism whereby power iscommunicated to said first bevel-gear to impart rotation thereto, all ofwhich, in the above clause, comprise the inertia governing mechanism ofmy invention, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WV. DOUGLAS CARTER.

Witnesses:

GEO. R. STEWART, JOSEPH N. CARTER.

